KC boys gather to grieve students' passing

A Kingston College flag sits atop the coffin bearing the remains of Malek Grannell who died suddenly on September 9, a day before he was set to begin sixth form at Kingston College. Malek, who was buried on Saturday, is one of five KC boys to have died in the last three months.

Students fron Kingston College are gathered inside the Holy Trinity Cathedral for a prayer vigil yesterday.

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Bad things happen to good people too, but God is present in the midst of all the grief and anguish.

This was the main takeaway as the Kingston College (KC) student body, school administrators, alumni, as well as principals and students from other traditional high schools converged on the Holy Trinity Cathedral yesterday for a prayer service and “a time of healing”.

Five student deaths in the space of three months have hit the usually exuberant school community hard, and while the congregation wasn’t exactly immersed in an ocean of tears, the grim, young faces painted a vivid picture of the current atmosphere around the school.

“Death has come to Kingston College in multiple ways and we don’t know why,” exclaimed The Right Reverend Robert Thompson, Suffragan Bishop of Kingston, in his homily.

“So, we need to acknowledge that, that question is on our minds this morning. Acknowledging that is the first step towards how we respond and the scripture (Romans 8: 31-39) can help us to respond to this question of ‘why?’”, added Thompson who is also a member of the KC board of governors.

The latest loss to the KC community surrounds the death of 16-year-old fifth former Daniel Wray last Wednesday.

Police said Wray was shot and killed when he and a friend were playing with a firearm belonging to the friend's relative in Portmore Pines, St Catherine.

According to reports, Wray was shot in the head at about 3:40 p.m. The other boy has been taken into custody by cops for questioning.

Meanwhile, KC's principal, Dave Myrie, said the event is was designed to allow for healing.

“We just wanted to bring the whole school together as a church family to have a time of healing,” he said.